Pros and Cons
The situation presented in this case study shows that patients are required to gain access to their health information, including diagnosis from a patient portal. The main advantage of portals involves the fact that they increase efficiency, while at the same time, improving patient satisfaction. For instance, the patient’s ability to access their data at the comfort of their homes is both satisfying and efficient. In addition, the situation helps with cost reduction and ensures patient autonomy. The patient does not necessarily have to travel to their health facilities to request and access information about their health. Moreover, the patient enjoys high-level autonomy when it comes to managing their health (Hebda & Czar, 2013). Despite the identified benefits of patient portals, malicious healthcare providers and staff are more likely to misuse the collected data, which, in turn, undermines patient’s privacy and security.
Safeguards
Two of the primary safeguards utilized in PHRs, as well as patient portals with the sole purpose of ensuring and promoting safety and security, include the integration of reliable access control tools and the encryption of stored information. According to Herald and Czar (2013), the use of personal identification numbers (PINs) and passwords, goes a long way in preventing unauthorized access to private information and data. On the same note, encrypting sensitive patient information typically requires the reader to decrypt it through the use of specialized security keys, meaning only the authorized person can read or understand the information.
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Agree or Disagree?
I agree with how patients access their PHRs because it ensures their security and safety. The fact that patients often receive health care in a variety of hospitals might serve as a security risk. By accessing their health PHRs from a given portal at a time means that the patient is safe from confusion and can only retrieve their data privately.
Challenges
A patient who fails to gain access to all of their PHRs is more likely to experience a disruption in the treatment, as well as disease management processes. In essence, information gathered and stored during the first hospital visit should be harmonized with new or following visits as a way of ensuring continuity and consistency. A lack of complete PHRs implies that the patient might have difficulty providing information necessary for their treatment. Moreover, the patient might be compelled to repeat previous procedures, including diagnoses, which can be burdensome and cost-ineffective.
References
Hebda, T. & Czar, P. (2013). Handbook of informatics for nurses & healthcare professionals . London, UK: Pearson.
